CF patient and avid bicyclist Bray Lundy of Neptune, shown fifth from right, is presented with an electronic bike by members of the Take A Breather Foundation, including Director of Giving Molly McBryan, third from right. They are shown with members of the multidisciplinary team for MMC’s CF Center including, fourth from right, Dr. Doantrang Du, Co-Director, CF Center and Adult Program Director.
Long Branch, NJ, October 23, 2024 –Two Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were recently presented with electronic bikes courtesy of a charitable foundation that fulfills wishes for individuals with CF.
Representatives of The Take A Breather Foundation traveled to Monmouth Medical Center’s Cystic Fibrosis Center at the Anne Vogel Family Care & Wellness Center in Eatontown to present two Pedego Element electric bikes. In the past, the foundation has provide MMC adult CF patients with unforgettable experiences, such as a weekend getaway to Cape May, as well as fulfilling coveted items like gaming systems.
CF is a progressive, genetic disease that affects the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body. It is a complex disease that affects many parts of the body differently as you age into adulthood, according to Dr. Doantrang Du, a board-certified, internal medicine physician with expertise in cystic fibrosis, who serves as Co-Director of the CF Center and leads the adult program.
Dr. Du, an RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group provider, notes that the center is privileged to collaborate with organizations such as the Take A Breather Foundation, which offers unique opportunities to fulfill the needs of patients.
“These bikes are not just gifts – they represent freedom and mobility for our patients,” she says. “The patients were chosen because we knew the bikes would positively impact their lives by allowing them to engage in their hobbies and transport themselves to more places. We are so grateful to the Take A Breather Foundation for their continued support of our patients.”
The Take A Breather Foundation provides a breather, in the form of a wish, to those battling cystic fibrosis. Founded in 2012, the foundation has been an outgrowth of the Narberth CF Run which began fulfilling wishes for children in 1996, when they granted their first wish and sent a child to Disney World.
“One of the most rewarding benefits to my job is to see a wish through from start to finish, and to hear from the wish recipients, after receiving their wish, the incredible impact it has had on their lives,” says Molly McBryan, Director of Giving for the Take A Breather Foundation.
MMC’s Comprehensive Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center—the oldest center in New Jersey and the only center in Monmouth and Ocean counties—earned reaccreditation earlier this year from the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). The center — which opened in 1969 and includes both pediatric and adult programs — offers patient care to more than 100 ranging in age from 6 months to 62, as well as teaching and research and is designated by the State of New Jersey as a referral center for Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening.
To learn more about the Comprehensive Cystic Fibrosis Center, call 732-222-4474.
Contact: Kathy Horan
(732) 546-6317
Kathy.Horan@rwjbh.org